A process for the preparation of a polyol which includes reacting an amino-group-containing starter compound with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst to form a polyol, wherein the catalyst is based on a compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali, alkaline earth metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal carboxylates, and alkaline earth hydroxides, and wherein the catalyst is present in an amount of from 0.004 to 0.1 wt. % based on the amount of polyol; and neutralizing the polyol with from 0.75 to 1 mol of sulfuric acid per mol of catalyst used.